Three Days With the Nissan Leaf: An Emissions-Free Adventure in Tweets
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New car reviews are often carefully crafted pieces of prose. They’re well thought out with plenty of reflection by the author about the vehicle’s relevance, its target audience and how it stacks up against segment rivals. What they lack, however, is a sense of authenticity that comes from unfiltered opinion and reaction. Where you can…
Win A Tablet In Yokohama Tire’s Twitpic Contest
It really pays off to be connected into social media. And if you’re connected to Yokohama Tire Corporation, you could win a tablet computer. During the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show, the Yokohama Tire Corporation will be hosting a social media and digital express. For this contest, Yokohama will use Facebook and Twitter to give…
Mazda Reveals Rotary Engine On Twitter
The Wankel engine lives! Although recent reports have suggested otherwise, a tweet from Mazda’s PR department was posted in Japanese for their followers indicating a new generation rotary engine is in the works, and thus confirming a previous report stating that SkyActiv senior exec Kiyoshi Fujiwara is continuing development on the Wankel. Details on the rotary…
Nissan Takes Advantage Of Toyota Camry Launch
Toyota officially launched the all-new Camry last week, and Nissan took advantage of this situation in a very 21st century method of subterfuge. When the sedan was unveiled, Toyota found that the word “Camry” had been acquired on social media service Twitter by rival Nissan North America. Anyone searching the Camry on Twitter during the…
NHTSA Chief Battles Distracted Drivers
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration administrator David Strickland explained last week that he will challenge unsafe infotainment technology that is distracting drivers. “I’m just putting everyone on notice. A car is not a mobile device,” Strickland said. “I’m not in the business of helping people tweet better. I’m not in the business of helping people post…
Smart ForTwo Illustrated With Futuristic Tweets
What would you like to see happen in the future? That’s the question posted by Smart on Twitter, and they used the resulting answers to decorate a car. In 140 characters or less, Smart asked people on Twitter what their view of the future was and had illustrator Johanna Basford pen them on a white…
Subaru Wins Top Automotive Webby Award For ‘Mediocrity’ Campaign
Subaru of America has won the top automotive Webby Award and the Gold IAAA Award for their ‘mediocrity’ advertising campaign, which lampooned traditional mid-size sedans. Subaru played off the abudnance of bland sedans in the market place. Subaru’s campaign portrays a dull and unexceptional fictional vehicle: the 2011 Mediocrity, displayed in dull beige. hue ….
Chevrolet Needs 100,000 Hand Raisers For New El Camino
For the record, 100,000 units is about what the current Toyota Tacoma sells each year in the US and to be fair represents rather high volumes for a niche vehicle. And in fact the best sales total the original El Camino ever managed, was 64,960 units, back in 1979.
Chrysler Cans Social Media Agency After Infamous F-Bomb Tweet
The Tweet heard round the world has claimed more than just one job. Chrysler has just announced in a followup to the firing of the social media representative who used the F-Bomb in an official Chrysler tweet, that it will not renew its contract with the individual’s employer New Media Strategies. Yesterday morning an unnamed…
Chrysler Drops F-Bomb Via Twitter, Employee Fired
Chrysler’s official Twitter handle, @ChryslerAutos, issued a swear-laden message regarding the state and sanity of the Motor City’s motorists. The tweet was deleted, but not before it was picked up by thousands. The tweet read, “I find it ironic that Detroit is known as the #motorcity and yet no one here knows how to f—ing…
Audi’s ‘Progressive Luxury’ Super Bowl Ads Tie-In Social Media, Offer Prizes
Audi wants Super Bowl fans to re-define luxury. To kick off Super Bowl week, they’ve taken their quest online using various social media outlets for fans to join the movement. As of today, you can visit Facebook at audi.us/EstateSale and Twitter at http://audi.us/ProgressIs and RSVP to these social media contests that attempt to give old…
Seattle Police Use Twitter to Stop Car Thefts
Oh social media, what can’t you do? Not only do you entertain us and keep us up to date, you also fight crime in your spare time. The Seattle police department has announced that it will start tweeting information on stolen vehicles in hopes of cutting rising auto theft rates. The stolen car tweets will…
Official Jeep Blog Launches to Support, Grow Jeep Community
If you’ve just got to know everything about Jeep as it happens, you’re in luck! The first official blog of the Jeep brand launched Monday, November 29. Not only that, if you’re one of the first 25 to comment on the Jeep blog post entitled “Celebrating the Launch of the Jeep blog,” you’ll receive two…
Have A Social Media Virtual Lunch with Lexus USA VP Mark Templin
Do you have plans for lunch this Friday? Join Lexus USA Vice President and General Manager, Mark Templin, for a special online chat on Facebook and Twitter – it will be filling and nutritious! This Friday – that’s November 12 – at 12pm PST/3pm EST, Templin will answer any questions you may have about Lexus,…
Volkswagen Announces Winner of App My Ride Contest
Dude, that app is so cool! It’s so cool that it won Volkswagen’s “App My Ride” contest. Taking the top spot of this contest was “DUDE,” a talking car pal that communicates with the driver to get them to their destination in the funnest way possible. Beating out 100 other applicants, DUDE was chosen as…
Buick Lets You Use Twitter to Book a Test Drive
You’re too busy to get to the dealership to test drive a car – so what’s a savvy social networker to do? Just tweet, and Buick will bring the car to you, pretty much wherever you are. Available in Chicago, you’ll be able to book a test drive using Twitter. The “Tweet to Drive” campaign…
Meet AJ: the Ford Fiesta that Can Tweet
Recently Ford engineers drove a modified Fiesta concept car from Ann Arbor, Mich., to San Mateo, Calif., as part of a new technology experiment. Along the journey it was the Fiesta, and not the folks inside it, Tweeting about the trip. Equipped with software called the “Auto”matic Blog, the Fiesta (named AJ) was able to…
California Leads the Nation in Traffic Ticket Tweets
Twitter is great for keeping abreast what’s going on in the lives of the people you follow. You can find out what’s going on in the world, learn what people are eating for breakfast and get the good news and the not-so-good news as it happens. And if you’re in California, chances are you’re going…
BMW Begins Hiring From Facebook, Twitter
BMW has launched a career information page on their Facebook fan page, allowing brand enthusiasts to seek out employment opportunities without having to navigate through a corporate website. The Facebook page will also allow users to forward job openings to their friends using the “share” function. Job seekers will also be able to use a…
Report: Michigan Towing Company Suing Student For Facebook Page
Are you financially liable for statements made on Facebook and Twitter? Kalamazoo, Michigan’s T&J Towing says yes, by filing a $750,000 lawsuit against a college student for libel and defamation of character. Autoblog reports that the student, Justin Kurtz, simply started up the Facebook group, “Kalamazoo Residents Against T&J Towing,” after sharing stories with others…
Report: General Motors Scouring the Net to Find Your Complaints and Address Them
In an effort to provide better customer support and head off problems before they get out of control, General Motors has created a new “task force” aimed at monitoring social media sites for complaints about GM vehicles and looking to find solutions. A report in the Detroit Free Press highlights the story of one woman,…
Report: Chevy To Offer Wi-Fi on Seven Models
Last year Cadillac took a leap into modern times by offering its new CTS model with Wi-Fi. Now, Chevy has announced that it will offer a dealer-installed Wi-Fi service for seven models including the: Equinox, Traverse, Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban, Avalanche and Express. The on-board system will transform a vehicle (as well as the area within…
Report: Based on Chevy’s Claim that Volt Gets 230 MPG, Nissan Estimates Electric Leaf Gets 367 MPG
Based on a new system to rate the fuel-economy of plug-in hybrids, Chevy announced yesterday that it’s Volt will get 230 mpg in the city. Using the same math, the folks at Nissan have determined that their upcoming electric Leaf will get 367 mpg. The 367 mph rating was posted on the automaker’s Twitter page…
Breaking: Future General Motors Product Plans Tweeted
If you’re a car junkie, Twitter is the place to be today. Ahead of a webcast tomorrow morning by GM CEO Fritz Henderson, the General arranged for a select few media to meet with its PR folks and get a preview of what the New GM has to offer. Many of those folks have been…
